Statement on HB 475 Passing House Health and Welfare Committee

Today the House Health and Welfare committee passed House Bill 475, sponsored by Representative Rita Smart, which ensures the safety of children in two settings children often find themselves. The first includes being in the care of a babysitter. Parents need ways to ensure that their child is safe with the person caring for them in their home. Having the ability to check the Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry maintained by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services will allow parents to find out if potential caregivers have substantiated cases of child abuse or neglect on their records.

HB 475 also addresses safety in another important setting by requiring public schools to check the Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry upon hire of new employees. Schools should have access to this information when hiring.

This bill builds upon progress around child safety made in the General assembly in the last few years. We thank Representative Smart, Chairman Burch, and the House Health and Welfare committee for passing HB 475 and further helping to ensure the safety of children no matter where they are. We now ask the full House to move HB 475 forward to help it become a reality this session